Strainer for oil supply mouth

ABSTRACT

The invention is an object of the invention to provide a strainer for an oil supply mouth, preventing the oil flowing when supplying the oil from colliding with the float so as to accurately detect the height of the liquid level. The strainer for an oil supply mouth of the invention has a guide hole equipped in vertical directions and a float for an oil level gauge passing movably in vertical directions through this guide hole. When the oil comes up to an at least reference liquid level, the float is received at a lower end within the guide hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a strainer to be attached to an oilsupply mouth of an oil tank provided to heavy weight machinery such asconstruction equipment for preventing impurities from entering into theoil tank during supplying an oil, and to a strainer for an oil supplymouth having a float for an oil gauge enabling to detect a position of aliquid level.

In general, the above mentioned strainer for oil supply mouth (calledbriefly as “strainer” hereafter) is formed to be like a cup andstructured by securing network bodies to surround a periphery of aframe, and this is attached as fitted into the oil supply mouth. Whenattaching the strainer and inserting an oil supply hose, impurities canbe caught by the network body.

By the way, when attaching the strainer to the oil supply mouth, aheight of a liquid level within the oil tank cannot be visuallyrecognized from the outside during supplying the oil. As disclosed inPatent Literatures 1 and 2, such structures are known in which thestrainer is provided with the float for the oil level gauge floating inresponse to rising of the liquid level. Seeing the float rising, asupplying person recognizes that the liquid level reaches a rightposition. Specifically, Patent Literature 1 discloses a structure ofsupporting movably in the vertical direction the float floating inresponse to rising of the liquid level in the strainer body, whilePatent Literature 2 discloses a structure of supporting movably in thevertical direction a spherical float attached to a rod at an outsidelower side of the strainer body.

-   -   Patent Literature 1: Utility Model No. 2508286    -   Patent Literature 2: Patent No. 3147688

However, in the strainer disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since thefloat is supported at the inside of the strainer body, there is aproblem that when inserting the oil supply hose to supply the oil, theflowing of the oil collide with the float, so that the float spoilsstability and fluctuates up and down, and the height of the liquid levelcannot be accurately detected.

In the strainer disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the float is supportedoutside of the strainer, and the oil can be prevented from directlycolliding with the float during supplying the oil as Patent Literature1, but there is a problem that since the circumferential wall of thestrainer is formed with the network body, the flowing of the supplyingoil passes through the network body and collides with the float(particularly, the spherical floating part exposed outside), and as aresult, even when the oil comes up to the reference liquid level, thefloat loses stability, and the height of the liquid level cannot beaccurately detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Paying an attention to these problems, it is an object of the inventionto provide a strainer for an oil supply mouth, preventing the oilflowing when supplying from colliding with the float so as to accuratelydetect the height of the liquid level.

In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterizedby having the following arrangement.

(1) A strainer comprising:

-   -   a body;    -   a guide hole formed in a vertical direction through a body;    -   a float for oil level gauge that passes movably in the vertical        direction through the guide hole, wherein the float is received        at a lower end within the guide hole when oil comes to an at        lest reference liquid level.

(2) The strainer according to (1), wherein when the float places at alower part of the guide hole, a lower end of the float projects from theguide hole in the vertical direction.

(3) The strainer according to (1), wherein the guide hole includes abottom portion for restraining the float from moving downward.

(4) The strainer according to (1), wherein the strainer is projected atits lower part with a nozzle, and the guide hole is extended to anozzle.

(5) A strainer for an oil supply mouth comprising:

-   -   a network part for filtering impurities;    -   a frame body for supporting the network part, that is formed to        be substantially in a cup shape, and includes an opening at a        upper part thereof;    -   a guide hole formed in a vertical direction through the frame        body; and    -   a float for an oil level gauge which is inserted movably in the        vertical direction within the guide hole.

(6) The strainer according to (5), wherein the guide hole includes anopening at the upper side, and the float is detachably inserted in theguide hole from the opening.

(7) The strainer according to (5), wherein the float includes, at theupper end, a stopper for contacting with an opening of the guide hole.

Depending on the strainer for the oil supply mouth of the invention,when the oil comes to the reference liquid level during supplying theoil, since the flowing of the oil is prevented from colliding with thefloat for the oil level gauge, the float is made stable, so that theheight of the liquid level can be accurately detected. That is, becausethe float for the oil level gauge is inserted in the guide hole formedto be hollow in the frame composing the strainer body, the float can besmoothly attached to the oil supply mouth, and at the same time, theportions of the guide hole or the float formed in the frame body areavoided from breakage when attaching them or supplying the oil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the first embodimentof the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view along A-A line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition ofattaching the strainer shown in FIG. 1 to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition wherethe liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to theoil supply mouth;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the structural examples of the floats,respectively;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the second embodimentof the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view along B-B line of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition ofattaching the strainer shown in FIG. 6 to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition wherethe liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to theoil supply mouth;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the third embodimentof the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view along C-C line of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition ofattaching the strainer shown in FIG. 10 to the oil supply mouth;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition wherethe liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to theoil supply mouth;

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the fourth embodimentof the strainer according to the invention;

FIG. 15A is a plan view along D-D line of FIG. 14, and Fig. B is a planview along E-E line of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition ofattaching the strainer shown in FIG. 14 to the oil supply mouth; and

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition wherethe liquid level of the oil rises after the strainer is attached to theoil supply mouth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, specific explanation will be made to theembodiment of the strainer for the oil supply mouth.

FIGS. 1 to 5B are views showing the first embodiment of the straineraccording to the invention, in which FIG. 1 is a vertical crosssectional view of the strainer, FIG. 2 is a plan view along A-A line ofFIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the conditionof attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 1 to the oil supply mouth, FIG.4 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition where theliquid level of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquidlevel) after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth, and FIGS.5A and B show the structural examples of the floats, respectively.

The strainer body is formed to be cylindrical (almost cup shaped) with abottom opening upward, and according to the present embodiment, thestrainer 1 is formed as a circular cylinder having a bottomcorresponding to a diameter of the oil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank20. The body 1 has a frame body 3 maintaining its inherent rigidity andavoiding breakage, and a net part 5 (including a substantially networkpart) of passing the oil into the oil tank while filtering impurities.In this case, the frame body 3 is formed with an upper frame 3 a, abottom frame 3 b, a plurality of vertical frames 3 c, and one lateralframe 3 d, said upper frame 3 a being formed to be cylindrical extendingdownward to a predetermined length from the edge of the oil supplymouth, said bottom frame 3 b, as shown in FIG. 2, being formed with acircular frame and a crossed frames laid in the circular frame, saidplurality of vertical frames 3 c being arranged in the verticaldirections (toward the bottom from the opening) of the strainer body 1connecting the frames 3 a and 3 b almost equidistantly, and said lateralframe 3 d connecting the lateral frames 3 c at the center position inthe circumferential direction. This lateral frame 3 d may be plural orabsent. The upper frame 3 a is provided with a flange 3 e at an upperopening place, protruding outside in the diameter to be hooked by theoil supply mouth 21 of the oil tank 20. Further, the net part 5 coversthe frames and forms the circumferential and bottom walls.

Of the plural frames composing the frame body 3, one of the verticalframes 3 c extending in the axial direction (vertically) of the mainbody 1 when being attached to the oil supply mouth 21, is unified as onebody with a guide hole 7 being hollow and opening at the upper and lowerends, and the vertical frames 3 c are formed to be tubular, and in theguide hole 7, the float 10 for an oil level gauge is inserted movably inthe vertical directions.

In this case, in one of the vertical frames 3 c, the guide hole 7 isformed in the vertical directions from the upper part to the bottom partof the strainer body 1 in the axial direction of a projected part 3′shaped in a pillar toward the inside of the strainer body 1, and thisguide hole 7 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the float 10 soas to vertically move the float 10 having a diameter almost equal in thelength direction. By the way, the portion formed with the guide hole 7may be the vertical frame 3 c, or is sufficient with another positionfrom the position disposed with the vertical frame, which (portion)projects inside or outside with respect to the circumferential wall ofthe body 1, otherwise may be a projected part inside and outside, or theframe may be formed separately from the strainer body 1.

The strainer body 1 composed of the frame body 3 having the guide holeas mentioned above and the net part 5 maybe unified as one body with amaterial such as a synthetic resin or a metal. Otherwise, the frame body3 and the net body 5 are formed individually, and the net part 5 isprovided to the frame body 3 with such as an adhesive.

The float 10 is structured as a bar like hollow member in circular crosssection (a pillar shape) by a blow molding, and its upper side is a rodportion 10 a of narrow diameter, while the lower side is the floatportion 10 b of thick diameter having buoyancy with respect to the oil.In this case, the rod portion 10 a and the float portion 11 b may behollow overall, but for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the rod portion 10a maybe solid. Otherwise, not being hollow, those portions may be formedwith a foamed substance, or formed as one body with materials beinglighter in specific gravity than that of the supplied oil. Preferably,the outside of the float 10 is color-divided as S1 and S2 in the rodpart 10 a, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, such that a maximum amountof supporting the oil (the reference liquid level) determined by a heavyweight machine can be visually recognized, or a mark as S2 is given to aposition corresponding to the upper opening of the guide hole 7 whenreaching the maximum amount of supporting the oil.

The float 10 is inserted at its lower float portion 10 b into an upperopening 7 a of the guide hole 7 and enters into the guide hole, and isformed at the upper part with a stopper 10 c projecting in thecircumferential direction to prevent dropping into the oil tank bycontacting to the opening 7 a of the guide hole. The length of the float10 may be shorter than the axial length of the guide hole 7, or maybelong as projecting out of the lower opening 7 b of the guide hole 7 asshown in FIG. 3. If the float 10 has the length projecting at the lowerend out of the opening 7 b as shown in FIG. 3, this length is to anextent that the lower end is received within the guide hole 7 when theliquid level of the oil rises so that the float 10 goes up.Specifically, if the float 10 has the length to the extent that itslower end is received within the guide hole 7 at least when the oilreaches the reference liquid level, such a length is sufficient.

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 3,mounted in that, after removing a cap (not shown) for the oil supplymouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 ofthe oil tank 20. At this time, the flange 3 e formed at the upperopening position of the upper frame 3 a is disposed by hooking on areceiving part 21 a of the oil supply mouth 21. Under this condition, anoil supply hose (not shown) is inserted into the upper opening part ofthe strainer body 1 to supply the oil.

In this case, since the float 10 is inserted in the guide hole 7 formedto be tubular in the frame body 3, it does not contact the innercircumference of the oil supply mouth 21 or the oil supply hose, norcause an obstruction when inserting the strainer body 1, or it isprevented from breakage when supplying the oil. That is, the strainerbody can be smoothly attached to the oil supply mouth 21.

When the liquid level goes up in the oil tank by supplying the oil, andcontacts the lower end of the float part 10 b of the float 10 via thelower opening 7 b of the guide hole 7, the float 10 begins to rise, andas shown in FIG. 4, it is visually recognized through the color-divisionor a mark given to the float 10 that the float 10 comes to thepredetermined reference liquid level, and the oil supply is therebyfinished. At this time, when the float part 10 b begins to rise, sincethe lower end thereof is held within the guide hole 7, the float 10 isnot influenced by the flowing of the oil- and can stably go up, andfurther, also when the oil comes to the reference liquid level, thefloat 10 is held at its lower end (the float part 10 b) in the guidehole, and the oil flowing is avoided from directly contacting the float10 when supplying the oil, so that the height in the liquid level can beaccurately detected. Subsequently, by closing the cap of the oil supplymouth 21 while inserting the float 10, the float 10 is supported by thestrainer body under the condition of being placed within the guide hole7.

In the above mentioned structure, since the float 10 is detachablyinserted, the only float can be easily exchanged, and since the float 10is formed at the upper part with the stopper 10 c projecting in thecircumferential direction to prevent dropping by error into the oil tankby decreasing of the oil amount in the oil tank.

Next, another embodiment of the invention will be explained. In theunder mentioned embodiment, the same composing elements as those of thefirst embodiment will be given the same reference signs to omit detailedexplanation.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are views showing the second embodiment of the straineraccording to the invention, in which FIG. 6 is a vertical crosssectional view of the strainer, FIG. 7 is a plan view along B-B line ofFIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the conditionof attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 6 to the oil supply mouth, andFIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition wherethe liquid level of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquidlevel) after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth.

Similarly to the above mentioned embodiment, of the plural framescomposing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3 c is formedwith a swelling part 3 f in a half-pillar shape inside of the strainerbody 1, and is here unified as one body with the guide hole 7 beinghollow and opening at the upper and lower end. The float 10 for an oillevel gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions into theguide hole 7. In this case, the swelling part 3 f is defined at thelower end with a bottom 12 so that the float 10 is restrained frommoving downward. The swelling part 3 f formed with the guide hole 7 isformed outside and at the bottom 12 with a plurality of openings 13communicating with the guide hole 7, so that the oil freely flows intothe guide hole 7.

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 8,mounted in that, after removing the cap (not shown) for the oil supplymouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 ofthe oil tank 20. When the oil is supplied under this condition and theliquid level begins to rise within the oil tank 20, the oil flows intothe guide hole 7 via the plurality of openings 13 formed in the bottom12 of the guide hole 7 and the swelling part 3 f, and the oil flows intothe guide hole 7 so that the float 10 begins to rise, and as shown inFIG. 9, it is visually recognized through the color-division or markmade to the float 10 that the float 10 comes to the predeterminedreference liquid level.

According to this structure, since the float 10 is completely receivedwithin the guide hole 7, it rises stably without being directlyinfluenced by the oil flowing, and when the oil comes up to thereference liquid level, the liquid level can be accurately detected. Bythe way, the positions, the number, the dimensions of the openings 13formed in the swelling part 3 f can be deformed at disposal. Instead ofthe openings, cutouts may be formed for exposing the float 10 at themiddle part outside of the strainer body 1.

FIGS. 10 to 13 are views showing the third embodiment of the straineraccording to the invention, in which FIG. 10 is a vertical crosssectional view of the strainer, FIG. 11 is a plan view along C-C line ofFIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view showing thecondition of attaching the strainer shown in FIG. 10 to the oil supplymouth, and FIG. 13 is a vertical cross sectional view showing thecondition where the liquid level of the oil rises (the condition of thereference liquid level) after the strainer is attached to the oil supplymouth.

Similarly to the above mentioned embodiment, of the plural framescomposing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3 c is formedwith a swelling part 3 g in a half-pillar shape outside of the strainerbody 1, and is here unified as one body with the guide hole 7 beinghollow and opening at the upper and lower end. The float 10 for an oillevel gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions into theguide hole 7. The swelling part 3 g formed with the guide hole has thelength to the extent that the lower end of the float 10 projects out ofthe lower opening 7 b of the guide hole 7 under the condition that thestopper 10 c contacts the opening 7 a of the guide hole 7. Specifically,such a length is sufficient that when the oil reaches near the referenceliquid level, the length to the extent that the lower end of the float10 is received within the guide hole 7. The swelling part 3 g formedwith the guide hole 7 is formed outside thereof with a plurality ofopenings 13 communicating with the guide hole 7, so that the oil freelyflows into the guide hole 7 (since the oil flows from the lower opening7 b of the guide hole 7, the above mentioned openings 13 may be absent).

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 12,mounted in that, after removing the cap (not shown) for the oil supplymouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 ofthe oil tank 20. When the oil is supplied under this condition and theliquid level begins to rise within the oil tank 20, the oil flows intothe guide hole 7 via the plurality of openings 13 formed in the loweropening 7 b of the guide hole 7 and outside of the swelling part 3 g,and the oil flows into the guide hole 7 so that the float 10 begins torise, and as shown in FIG. 13, it is visually recognized through thecolor-division or mark made to the float 10 that the float 10 comes tothe predetermined reference liquid level.

Also in this structure, the float 10 projects at its lower end (thefloat 10 b) out of the guide hole 7 when beginning to supply the oil,but the float 10 goes up as rising of the liquid level of the oil, andwhen coming up to the reference liquid level, the float 10 is receivedat its lower end within the guide hole 7, so that the liquid level canbe accurately detected without being influenced by the oil flowing.

FIGS. 14 to 17 are views showing the fourth embodiment of the straineraccording to the invention, in which FIG. 14 is a vertical crosssectional view of the strainer, FIG. 15A is a plan view along D-D lineof FIG. 14 and FIG. 15B is a plan view along E-E line of FIG. 14, FIG.16 is a vertical cross sectional view showing the condition of attachingthe strainer shown in FIG. 14 to the oil supply mouth, and FIG. 17 is avertical cross sectional view showing the condition where the liquidlevel of the oil rises (the condition of the reference liquid level)after the strainer is attached to the oil supply mouth.

Similarly to the above mentioned embodiment, of the plural framescomposing the frame body 3, one of the vertical frames 3 c is formedwith a swelling part 3 h in an almost pillar shape inside of thestrainer body 1, and is here unified as one body with the guide hole 7being hollow and opening at the upper and lower end. The float 10 for anoil level gauge is inserted movably in the vertical directions into theguide hole 7. At the lower end of the swelling part 3 h formed with theguide hole, a nozzle 15 receiving the lower end of the float 10 isformed as one body with a bottom frame 3 b so that the lower endprojects from the bottom frame 3 b, and the float 10 is received at itslower end within the nozzle 15 under a condition that the stopper 10 cformed at the upper end of the float 10 contacts the opening 7 a of theguide hole 7. In this case, the guide hole 7 extends in the nozzle 15having the opening 15 a via which the old freely flows into the guidehole 7. The swelling part 3 h formed with the guide hole 7 may be formedoutside thereof with a plurality of openings communicating with theguide hole 7 similarly to the above mentioned embodiments.

The structured strainer as mentioned above is, as shown in FIG. 16,mounted in that, after removing the cap (not shown) for the oil supplymouth, the strainer body 1 is inserted into the oil supply mouth 21 ofthe oil tank 20. When the oil is supplied under this condition and theliquid level begins to rise within the oil tank 20, the oil flows intothe guide hole 7 via the lower opening 15 a of the nozzle 15, and theoil flows into the guide hole 7 so that the float 10 begins to rise, andas shown in FIG. 17, it is visually recognized through thecolor-division or mark made to the float 10 that the float 10 comes tothe predetermined reference liquid level.

Depending on this structure, since the oil flowing does not contact thefloat 10 before the liquid level reaches the float 10, the float 10avoids breakage without being influenced by the oil flowing, and stablyrises, and also when the oil comes to the reference liquid level, theliquid level can be accurately detected. Further, even if the referenceliquid level is lower than the strainer body 10, the strainer body 10can be applied by appropriately extending the nozzle 15.

The embodiments according to the invention have been explained, and thestrainer of the invention is not limited to the illustrated structures,and various modifications are available.

For example, shapes of the frame body 3 are sufficient if being formedalmost in cup as a whole, and the disposing structure of the framecomposing the frame body is appropriately varied. With respect to theguide hole 7, in the frames composing the frame body 3, other than beingformed at the frame part extending in the axial direction, the guidehole 7 is sufficient if being structured to guide the float merelyvertically, and may be formed separately from the frame body 3 orattached to the strainer body 1. Further, in regard to the guide hole 7,the hole shapes, the axial length, thickness, or piece number may beappropriately deformed, and the guide hole 7 and the part to be formedwith the guide hole (the swelling part, or vertical frame) aresufficient if being structured to vertically move the float 10. Theshapes, or the composing materials of the float may be appropriatelymodified, for example, the float may have such a structure not takingoff from the guide hole.

The network part is not limited to the net part and includes a membershaped in network, and further includes a member which have a sameeffect of the net part. For example, a filter having porous structurethat filters impurities is included in the network part according to theinvention. The porous structure can have various size and various shape.

1. A strainer comprising: a body; a guide hole formed in a verticaldirection through a body; and a float for oil level gauge that passesmovably in the vertical direction through the guide hole, wherein thefloat is received at a lower end within the guide hole when oil comes toan at least reference liquid level.
 2. The strainer according to claim1, wherein when the float places at a lower part of the guide hole, alower end of the float projects from the guide hole in the verticaldirection.
 3. The strainer according to claim 1, wherein the guide holeincludes a bottom portion for restraining the float from movingdownward.
 4. The strainer according to claim 1, wherein a nozzle isprojected from the body, and the guide hole is extended to a nozzle. 5.A strainer for an oil supply mouth comprising: a network part forfiltering impurities; a frame body for supporting the network part, thatis formed to be substantially in a cup shape, and includes an opening ata upper part thereof; a guide hole formed in a vertical directionthrough the frame body; and a float for an oil level gauge which isinserted movably in the vertical direction within the guide hole.
 6. Thestrainer according to claim 5, wherein the guide hole includes anopening at the upper side, and the float is detachably inserted in theguide hole from the opening.
 7. The strainer according to claim 5,wherein the float includes, at the upper end, a stopper for contactingwith an opening of the guide hole.